We help you love the time you spend with your young child.

Author: Karen Lock Kolp

I am still in training! This is week two of the drafting of Your Child Explained Volume 2, and I’m sharing about my progress and next steps. I want to have this book in your hands in mid August, so I’m reporting my progress as I diligently work towards that goal.

Today’s guest, Jacky Lamenzo, ate “only off the kids menu” well into her adulthood.

Then, she had the opportunity to go to China for a year, and knew something was going to have to change.

Could she make the change? You bet.

In our conversation Jacky shares what she did to stop being a picky eater, and also about her delightful children’s book that helps parents and kids with picky eating now.

And here’s the cool thing: before we even get to the picky eating, we talk about so much other interesting stuff, everything from what Jacky did when she felt that her work wasn’t being valued, to bonding over studying in Florence, Italy!

Cheat sheet on the 3 ways moving to China helped solve Jacky’s picky eater problem (and how that can help in your family life)

Links that come up in today’s conversation

The video of the week: “3 ways to stop picky eating”

And thank you so much for listening!

Live Q&A and Open House Tour

Ever wished you could check out the private coaching community that I run for parents of young children?
Do you have questions about if it could work for you, even in your busy, insane life and with whatever technical skills you possess (especially if you feel like they’re not very good)?
You’re in luck! On Thursday, May 30, I am throwing open the doors to the Ninja Parenting Community!
I’m taking you right inside, and showing you:
– What our members love about it
– How the community helps parents turn family time into “the best time of the day”
– And I’m taking questions too!

It’s free… I’m so excited to bring you in and show you around!
It’s live… But even if you can’t be there live at 2PM EST, signing up gets you the replay so you can rewatch as many times as you like.It’s where my heart and soul is… because I get to work closely with so many amazing parents.

I want to share a goal of mine. I’m in training! I’m drafting a new parenting book and today I’m asking you to keep me on track.

And also I’m excited because I think this story that I share today could also be helpful for you, even if your struggles are different than mine.

First: I’m in training!

Longtime listeners to the podcast, and readers of this letter, might know that I have a chronic illness. A tendon disorder, that keeps me from doing a lot of things that you probably consider perfectly normal and everyday events, such as chopping vegetables, or folding laundry.

But there would be no podcast, there would be no We Turned Out Okay at all, without the tendon disorder. And that is because of something a friend said to me when I was at my worst, with just 5% use practical use of my hands. I had truly hit rock bottom. I felt like such a burden, and so useless, to those who were responsible for taking care of me; meaning my husband, Ben, and our two boys.

It should have been the other way around, I should have been taking care of them! And instead I could hardly wash my own hair or pour my own coffee.

When a friend suggested that this didn’t have to only be negative, that instead it could be positive, it opened up a whole new avenue. She said “okay, you can’t do all the normal parenting things. Or all the normal housekeeping things. So what CAN you do?” Continue reading “Be the brains”→

“She will not eat with us at the dinner table. No matter what we have for dinner she won’t eat it. She just says “yucky” and won’t eat anything. Help!!!”
So writes Megan, mom of a two-year-old girl who is a seriously picky eater.

I bet, if you’ve got kids, you know Megan’s struggle. I certainly do!

There is help. Today I share 4 things to consider when you’ve got a child who refuses to eat.

Years ago, I went to see a movie in an actual theater, on a big screen. They had this really clever ad in the lead-up to the movie where you saw all this action and excitement… and then slowly the action and excitement began shrinking.

It shrank and shrank away until it all took place in a tiny box in the middle of the screen.

And then above it appeared gigantic words, and I’m paraphrasing here, but basically they said: “don’t let your entertainment shrink down to this.”

That’s one of the last movies I ever saw in the theater.
Clearly, their plea of “keep coming to the movies!” didn’t work well on me.

For years our lives have been slowly, insidiously being taken over by tiny screens.

Maybe you have found the same thing in your life.

Over three or four years I’ve noticed:

A sense of panic if I don’t have my phone on or near me

Despite my best efforts, trouble concentrating on the people who are right in front of me because the screen in my hand beckons

Clarity; balance; peace… Sometimes it can be hard to feel that we have any of these in our frantic homes and lives.

Today’s guest, Meagan Wilson, specializes in helping families reconnect with those positive feelings, and best of all helps us bring those positive feelings to our children.

In our conversation we talk about:
– The best kind of learning for little kids
– How to get more of that into our kiddos’ lives
– The importance of wonderful things like daily rhythms and self-directed play into our family lives

I hope you, like me, come away with the feeling of hope.
That is what today’s guest brings to our conversation.

In the Parenting News segment of the show:
Anna Seewald of the Authentic Parenting podcast is hosting a live, one day conference in New Jersey on May 18, and Dr. Laura Markham is the keynote speaker! Anna is kindly offering a $50 discount per ticket to listeners of We Turned Out Okay, so keep an ear out for that!

I’m re-reading one of my favorite books, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, and one part particularly struck me in my reading last night.
It’s when main character Fanny’s grave, serious uncle agrees to allow Fanny to do something he would rather she did not: get up early after being up very late (so she can say goodbye to her brother, William, who leaves in the morning).
After much discussion Fanny’s uncle, Sir Thomas, fondly says “well, well.” And Fanny knows she has been given permission to be present at this farewell breakfast.

It got me thinking on the ways that we give, or withhold, our permission.

One of the most concerning things for us parents is that our kids will not have any friends.
Maybe because we all remember that feeling of being lonely, or singled out.

We can feel kind of helpless at the same time. You may be feeling like either the process is so intuitive that you can’t teach it, or you may even be thinking “I don’t have that many friends, who am I to be trying to teach my child how to make friends?”

In this episode I deconstruct this process.
I offer 4 ways to help your child make friends.

ALSO in Parenting News: a member of the We Turned Out Okay Facebook group makes the New York Times! For something really special!

Live Q&A and Open House Tour

Ever wished you could check out the private coaching community that I run for parents of young children?
Do you have questions about if it could work for you, even in your busy, insane life and with whatever technical skills you possess (especially if you feel like they’re not very good)?
You’re in luck! On THIS coming Thursday, April 25 at 1 PM EST, I am throwing open the doors to the Ninja Parenting Community!
I’m taking you right inside, and showing you:
– What our members love about it
– How the community helps parents turn family time into “the best time of the day”
– And I’m taking questions too!

It’s free… I’m so excited to bring you in and show you around!
It’s live… But even if you can’t be there live, signing up gets you the replay so you can rewatch as many times as you like.It’s where my heart and soul is… because I get to work closely with so many amazing parents.

Subscribe to the We Turned Out Okay Podcast in your fave podcatcher:

“I have two spirited kids and this is so helpful.” – Laurablou, 5-Star iTunes review

1

"Karen is straightforward, funny and caring.
Most of all, her background in early childhood education means she has the experience and knowledge to back up what she says."
– Hkihm, 5-Star iTunes review

1

"We Turned Out Okay is very much in line with the "simplicity parenting" and "kids in nature" trend that I appreciate and benefit from. The podcaster's voice is great and her advice and insight is excellent. Try it!"
- seashell-carb, 5-star iTunes review

1

"This show is so great for parents. Karen shares relatable tips in a straightforward but also tender way. Very entertaining and educational."
– ParentNormal Podcast host Chris Cate, 5-star iTunes review

1

"Since I've been listening I've been more conscious about my life with my kids.
I love your stories and insight.
I love the guests that you have. They are diverse and passionate.
Thanks for doing the podcast. I can't wait for more. Please keep them coming!"
– How Ya Ben, 5-Star iTunes review

1

"So good. I have two spirited kids and this is so helpful."
– Laurablou, 5-Star iTunes review

"My wife and I have really young kids, and as a result were so happy to check out Positive Discipline Ninja Tactics. Karen's mix of personal stories and great hacks – things to do in the toughest moments with little kids – make this book so useful and entertaining. Highly recommended!"